, 1887-12-29
REPORT MADE BY PROF. j. E.
CLAYTON, Mining
ENGINEER.
Review OF the Arlington and
other Mines on the West
Flank Of Ruby
Mountain.


feature Of the holiday issue the pro
prietors of the REVIEW have aimed tC
give exhaustive as well as reliable Dies
criptions of the mining districts trib-
utary to Spokane Falls, and in most
cases have succeeded in enlisting the
cooperation of gentlemen whose per
sonal acquaintance with the several
camps especially qualities them for
the task of writing them up. In the
case of the Salmon river district no
one could be found prepared to give Il
full and accurate report of the coun-
try, AS to developments and possibil-
tiles at the present time and as no inn
provement could be made on the adj
mirable and minute report of Prof.
Clayton, published in the REVIEW
some months ago, it is reprinted below.
In this connection it may be stated
that Prof Clayton's reference to the
roads are based upon the condition
they were in at the time he travelled
over them. Since then largo sum
has been spent improving the road
from Spokane Falls to Salmon river,
and it is in an excellent condition and
now this route is the one almost ex-
clusively travelled going to and from
the mines. Prof. Clayton says;
Ruby district Is situated on the
Concomelly creek (miscalled Salmon
river about fifteen miles west Of the
Okanogan river. The COncomelly
creek has general course from
northwest to southeast, having its
source in range of high, rugged
mountains lying west OF the
Okanogan valley, and cutting its
way through deep rough canyons in
a southeasterly course to its juno
ton with the Okanogon river. In
the fall season this creek Is a stream
OF small dimensions, IA rod or two in
width, ana delivering about 700 GU
bic feet Of water per minute--say
twelve cubic feet per second-but in
the spring season IL is a raging
mountain torrent, scarcely fOrdable
except In very favorable localities.
winter for a latitude so far north.
The snowfall along the river is rare
!y more more than two feet deep,
but Is much deeper In the mountain
range and higher ground near its
source and lateral water sned.
Ruby City is located on the creek
near or opposite the center of the dis
trict. Its elevation above sea level
i, Al ..lx f..
jacent mountains rise to a height Of
1000 to 5000 feet above sea level.
The climate Is dry and hot in the
summer, like all the great belt Of
country, on the flank OF the Casdade
range from California up to the
British Columbia line. The nights,
however, are usually cool and pleas.
ant. The district is well timbered
with yellow pine, fir and tamarac.
The principal line OF approach at
present Is from Spokane and Sprague,
the two roads uniting few miles
west of WildgOO3e ranch, about sew
enty miles west of Spokane Fall;
thence In a westerly course to the
nor.hernly end Of the Grand Coulee,
where one first sees the Columb bia
river; thence across n high plateau a
distance OF sixteen miles to the
crossing OF the Columbia at Condor
Ferry. From here the road leads
over high, plateau country to the
Okanogan river, a distance of twenty
five mile5; thence westerly over
plateaus and hills to Ruby City, a
total distance from Spokane Falls of
about 100 miles. a stage line is now
running once a week between SpO-
kane and Ruby district, making a
trip through In three days. Another
line of approach Is from Eilensbure
on the Yakima river in northeast
Crly direction, across an easterly
spur of the Cascade range, distance
Of 105 miles.
The natural line of approach is evil
dently up the valley Of the Column
bia river, either by a continuous line
OF railway or by water to the foot of
Priests rapids, then by rail- up to
Rock Island, q distance of thirty or
forty miles, then by light draught
boats up the Columbia ard Okano-
gan rivers to the mouth of COncOm-
ely creek, thence by an easy grade
up the creek to the Ruby and Sal
mon districts.
i mention these different routes
for the purpose of showing the OBJ
stacles to be met with I'm reaching
the district. The roads from Spo-
kane and Sprague are very good to
the east bluff of the Grand Coulee.
From that point TO the mines they
are rough and difficult for heavy
teams. BY changing the location Of
the road ut q few places between
Grand Conlee and the crossing of
the Okanogan river and making pro-
per grades, an excellent wagon road
can be made that will be ;,assabls at
all seasons of the year. These
changes and improvements of the
road can be made at trifillng cost
compared with the advantages In
tra nsnOrt af lOn Of haav w fraiphts